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Atonement Ministries 116 W. Glen Ave Syracuse, NY 13205 (315) 492-9065 ©2012 Atonement Ministries |
Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger
The Messenger is published weekly, except for holiday weeks and an abbreviated schedule over the summer. If you prefer a copy of the Messenger that you can print, click on the link below:
Print version of this issue
Messenger Archives
November 17, 2009 - Volume 30, #43
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Save a Tree, Save a Stamp, Save some Money!
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- No Messenger Next Week
The Messenger is going on holiday! There will be no Messenger Thanksgiving week. The next issue will be published on December 1.
- Thanksgiving at Atonement - November 25, 2008
6:00 PM Turkey Dinner in the Fellowship Hall
You are cordially invited to a full Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. A free will offering will be taken to cover the cost of the dinner, but donations are not required. We want as many people as possible to enjoy this evening together! Reservations are not required but would be appreciated. Please call the church office at 492-9065. Bring a guest! All are welcome!7:00 PM Service of Thanksgiving in the Sanctuary
Pastor Gaetz preaching.Transportation is available by calling the church office. Nursery for children five and under will be available during the worship hour.
Note:
- There will be no evening class on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
- Regular Wednesday night activities will resume on December 2, including a new class: "Spending Advent with Luke", led by Pastor Peter. (read more about this in the Advent section of this Messenger).
- There will be no additional service on Thanksgiving Day.
- The church office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 27. Please conduct all business with the church office by Wednesday, November 25. The office will close promptly at 3pm Wednesday.
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Fabius Services Suspended
On November 8th the Church Council voted to suspend Sunday services at St. Paul's in Fabius effective November 22nd. There will be a celebration of the two decades of this ministry on Sunday November 22nd at the 9:00 AM Service. All are welcome and, as usual for Fabius, there will be food and fellowship following the service.
After much deliberation, the Council made the decision to suspend services in light of the limited attendance over recent months. Ceasing the regular Sunday service in Fabius will free up resources that have been subsidizing the Fabius Communityallowing us to expand our already very successful Wednesday Church Night program. For Wednesday evenings, the Transportation network will be enlarged, the meal service will become more family friendly, and guest musicians will be invited on a regular basis to lead the service. We will also outreach to the Onondaga Community College resident population.
Note, however, that while the regular Sunday services have been suspended, our work in Fabius will not entirely come to an end. There will be monthly "Reunion" breakfasts in the Fellowship Hall at Atonement and a Bible study group in the home of one of the Fabius community.
We thank God for all the lives we have been able to touch over the last two decades and look forward to this new chapter in our outreach.
- Youth Group Reminders
- Thanksgiving Baskets will be assembled on November 22 at 6:00pm. Questions? Contact Pastor Rodgers at 492-9065.
- Hanging of the Greens Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, December 20 (see Vicar Christine for more information)
- Thanksgiving Baskets will be assembled on November 22 at 6:00pm. Questions? Contact Pastor Rodgers at 492-9065.
- Welcome Ted!
Ted Kingsley just completed a course that entitled him to a commercial driver's license to drive big rigs. One of those "not quite so big rigs" is our bus. He is now the "regular" driver for Wednesday nights. He will occasionally fill in for Bill Kemp on the Sunday run. If you see Ted, make him welcome!
- Thanksgiving Baskets
We are gathering the necessary items for Thanksgiving baskets and need your help. Our food pantry, like so many others, is running low, as are donations. Please help where you can. Contributions are always welcome. Last year, filling out the baskets, after sorting through the donations, cost almost $400. Any help is appreciated. We can use all the usual food pantry items plus for Thanksgiving baskets -
We are gathering the necessary items for Thanksgiving baskets and need your help. Our food pantry, like so many others, is running low, as are donations. Please help where you can. Contributions are always welcome. Last year, filling out the baskets, after sorting through the donations, cost almost $400. Any help is appreciated. We can use all the usual food pantry items plus for Thanksgiving baskets -
- Turkey Stuffing mix
- Boxed mashed potatoes
- Canned beans and corn
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Quick bread mixes
- Soups - especially chunky type
- Pumpkin pie filling (not plain pumpkin)
- Evaporated milk
- Pie crust mix
- Jell-O and pudding mix
- Coffee/Tea
Attention Youth Group!
Thanksgiving Baskets will be assembled on November 22 at 6:00pm. Questions? Contact Pastor Rodgers at 492-9065.
- It's Advent Time Again
While it is a busy time, we need to make time for God.
Perhaps, especially in this busy time we need to make time for God so we don't forget the reason for Christmas - Jesus' Birthday.
So, set a few minutes aside each day for prayer. Mark off the days by placing a coin in the folder and then bring the folder back with you to Christmas worship.
There will be three opportunities:
- Christmas Eve - 7:00 PM Family Service featuring a special program by our Church School children
- Christmas Eve - 10:30 PM Festival Candlelight Eucharist with Pastor Gaetz preaching
- Christmas Day at 10:00 AM - Christmas in Story, Song and Sacrament with Pastor Suarez preaching
See you in Church!
- Prepare the Way
As Christmas approaches we, at Atonement, are reminded of a number of traditional needs competing for our attention. Please assist as you can.
- CHRISTMAS PLANTS
It's almost time for us to order the beautiful Christmas Poinsettias which will grace our sanctuary for Christmas. Please consider making a donation in memory or honor of someone or some occasion. These memorial inscriptions will appear in all the Christmas Bulletins and in the first Messenger of the New Year. The cost of plants is $12. Donations are being taken at worship on Sunday Dec. 7 and 14 or may be mailed to church. Be sure to include your desired memorial inscription. - FOOD BASKETS
Once again this year we will be distributing Christmas Food Baskets to about 25 families in need. Non-perishable food items can be delivered to church at any time or you may make a financial donation clearly marked "Food Baskets." See article on the next page for what items are needed. - HATS AND GLOVES
We need hats and gloves to include in our Christmas food baskets. We especially need hats and gloves for men and teen boys. Most of the folk who receive our baskets walk or rely on bus transportation to get around-so warm hands and heads are really appreciated. Please place your gift in the box near the food donation area. Thank you from the warm hands made possible because you share what God has entrusted to you. - MEMORIALS
Christmas Memorials will once again be available for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Memorials include the bulletins for each service and the large flowers that will be on the altar. More information will be in the next Messenger, or you can call the church office at 492-9065.
These are some of the ways you can help make Christmas more joyful for others, but Don't forget to make Christmas more joyful for yourself and your family by attending worship in Advent:
- Sunday at 8:30 and 10:45am in the main Sanctuary on W. Glen Ave.
- Wednesday at 6:15 PM in the Sanctuary. Don't forget there is also dinner at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall and a variety of activities for all ages at 7pm.
Sunday December 20 will be marked by Hanging of the Greens. The 10:45am service on December 20 will be followed by the traditional pasta dinner and then everyone is invited to stay and help decorate the Sanctuary.
- CHRISTMAS PLANTS
- First Week of Advent
"People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world"
Matt. 21:26When Jesus spoke these words, he was certainly not referring to Black Friday ~ the Friday after Thanksgiving when retailers try their best to lure bargain-crazed shoppers with $3 appliances, but rather he was talking about the chaos, fear and confusion that will herald the Last Days. Wait a minute. What happened to Christmas? Some of us haven't even gotten the crche out yet. Apparently the GPS we've been using for our spiritual road trip has gone haywire. But before we root around in the glove box for the return receipt, maybe we should look again. If we put Santa and his merry elves to one side for a moment and think about Christmas it's tempting to picture a calm, composed young mother, a doting father, a beautiful new-born, baby boy and some exceptionally well-behaved sheep. It's a lovely image, but lovely as it is, it doesn't do justice to the fact that this is the human birth of GOD and now that GOD has arrived on the scene, things will never, ever be the same. Hmm, maybe it's time to buckle-up; we may be in for a bumpy ride.
~ Shalom y'all, Vicar Christine
- Advent Wednesday Night Church Night
You are cordially invited to three special evenings in preparation for Christmas.
Dinner will be at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall, followed by 6:15pm Worship in the Sanctuary and class and recreation at 7:00 pm.
A variety of options are available following worship, including a new adult class: "Spend Advent with Luke", led by Pastor Peter. The class will be held on Wednesday evenings in Advent: December 2, 9, 16, and 23, beginning at 7:00 pm.
On December 23, the Christmas festivities will continue with Christmas Dinner at 5:30 PM and a service of Lessons and Carols at 6:15 PM followed by (your choice!) either the final class in "Spend Advent with Luke" series or the annual "Lights on the Lake" outing. Be watching future Messengers for more information about this festive evening.
There will be no Wednesday Church Night on December 30. Regular schedule will resume on January 6.
- Advent Sunday/Wednesday Adult Class
Spend Advent with Luke
The gospel of Luke is the primary gospel for the coming Church year, 2009-10. Get an insight into the "man" and his gospel by "SPENDING ADVENT WITH LUKE".....and Pastor Peter. Join us on either the Sundays or the Wednesday evenings in Advent (Nov 29-Dec 23) as we take a closer look at Luke and his book.
Sundays classes will be at 10am in the Kiesewetter Center conference room, Wednesday's classes will be at 7pm in the coffee shop.
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As of November 13, we have 43 pledges totaling a bit over $78,000! Have we counted yours?
Please remember to make your Financial Commitment for 2009. Return your Pledge card in the box in the rear of the Sanctuary or mail it to the Church Office as soon as possible. Extra forms are available from the ushers on Sunday or you may call the church office and Laura will be happy to send you another card. It really is important to hear from everyone.
- Blanket Sunday - November 22
For $ 5.00 YOU can provide comfort and hope to children and adults in the United States and in countries around the world. BLANKETS provide warmth as a bed cover, as a wrap around someone's shoulder, even used as a shelter like a tent.
On Sunday Novemember 22, for $5.00 you can purchase a warm blanket by using the envelope which will be in your church bulletin. If you cannot be in church you may send a check (made out to Women of the ELCA) to the church for the number of blankets ($5.00) each you wish to send to someone in need.
- Happy Anniversary!
December Anniversaries
4 Peter and Betty Suarez (1976)
21 Mark & Gayle Wentworth (1984 )
22 Joyce & Jim Jecen
28 Edwin & Janet Holmgren (1974), William & Sherry Peters (1988)
29 Thomas & Barbara Nelson (1953),
31 Jim & Linda Hurley (2003)
- Happy Birthday
December Birthdays
1 Jennifer Magee, Tiffany Ross
2 Kelly Edmonds, Laureen Batsford, Abigail Wood
3 Rosemarie Saile, Daniel Strumlok, Brigitte Niebuhr, Alvy Lucas
4 Alexander Sapoznikov
5 Gregory Bader
6 Debra Harper
7 Ruth Gray
8 Klaus Aserian, Michelle Palmer
9 Elaine Knaack, Richard Boynton, Serenity Rodgers
10 Arianne Walts
11 Delores Smith, Vincent Jenson, Marva Metz
12 James Mahaney, Noah Drummond, Connor Kniffin, Carol Boe, Michelle Giglio
13 Christopher Farren, Peter Girardi
14 Carole Barr, Herman Schultz
15 Thomas Nelson
16 June Quackenbush, David Holbrook, Joshua Pouliot
17 Patricia Hook
18 Debra Pauls, Krista Phillips, Erika Drummond
19 Patricia Karins, Gale Van Marter, Donald Brown, Jr.
20 Michelina Murphy, Jennifer McKeon, Jonathan Ramsden
21 Fesseha Kahsay
22 Arthur McCormick, Madison McKeon
24 Raymond Yackel, Jr., Jessica Battelle
25 David C. Rodgers, Randy Crossman, Dick Kennedy, Anouk Quackenbush
26 Brad Tucker, Miles Lewis, Madelyn Boynton, Austin Draper, Melissa Peterson
27 Diane Wilber
28 Thomas Merchant, Annemarie Fields, Nancilee Lewis
30 Ryan Wilber, Baxter Simmons
31 Mark Mahaney, Cathy Casler, Linda Owens
- Letter to Parents....
2009 Atonement Lutheran Church Christmas Eve Pageant
Dear Parents:
It's time to begin planning the annual Atonement Christmas Eve Pageant, which takes place during the 7pm Family Service at Atonement Lutheran Church. All Atonement youth, from age 3 through grade 12 are invited to participate in our pageant. This year, we are doing a musical, Shepherds, Sheep and a Savior.While there are some speaking and non-speaking roles, much of the story is told through music. That means there is lots of new music to learn! All of those who want to participate in the program (nursery through high school) will learn two new songs. We are also hoping that youth from grades five through 12 will help us form a special youth choir, which is at the heart of this year's pageant.
We want to start learning the new music beginning the week of November 8, continuing through "show time." There will also be one Saturday rehearsaltentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. that all children and youth are expected to attend if at all possible.
It is very important that you let me know if your children can participate in our pageant. It is also important that your children attend Sunday School or Wednesday Kids' Church as much as possible during the months of November and December so that we can work with them to prepare for this very special celebration of Jesus' Birth.
Please call me by November 20 (673-9393 after 6 p.m.), send me an email (ewholmes@windstream.net), or let Pastor Rodgers know whether your children can participate.
God's Peace,
Judy Holmes
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